What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the knowledge I learn from my research and the people who are interested in African symbols and their meaning.
How does music impact and influence you and what genres of music do you like?
I appreciate many different genres of music. Music that impacts and influences my art is Afro-Cuban music, in the style of rumba and guaguancó (Ibrahim Ferrer, Los Papines and Israel “Cachao” López). I love Afrobeat and anything by Fela Kuti and his sons. At this moment I’m listening to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Music gives me energy and mental power that helps to bring truth to my work. There are people [who] believe Africans have not contributed anything to humanity. Listening to the genres of music I mentioned while painting African symbols communicates and narrates a spoken account of how early man lived and helped humanity today.
Name two designing trends that have become mainstream?
I’ve seen African symbols that are appropriated in everything from clothing, shoes, wallpaper, Kleenex brand paper products, furniture stores, Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and shopping bags. Most people have no idea that the decorative motif that embellishes these products are African.
